Season 2018

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• Was one of the most consistent WRC performers in 2017 as he finished fifth on six occasions aboard Citroën’s C3 WRC.

• Secured a works Citroën drive for 2017 after scoring a stunning podium at Neste Rally Finland the previous season.

• The charismatic Irishman wears his heart on his sleeve. He has been known to arrive at a stage end with tears streaming down his face after setting a particularly good time.

The story so far

Breen, the son of former Irish champion Ray, began his career in karting in Ireland before moving into full-time rallying in 2009, when he won the International, British and Irish Fiesta Sporting Trophy titles and was crowned Ireland’s Young Driver of the Year.

In 2010 he finished second in the Irish Tarmac Championship in a Fiesta S2000 and claimed his maiden British Championship victory at the Ulster Rally.

Breen stepped up to the WRC Academy in 2011, lifting the title in a Fiesta R2 after wins in Germany and Britain, and the following season he won the SWRC title in a Fiesta S2000 after four category wins.

Peugeot signed Breen to lead its European Rally Championship attack in 2013 in a 207 S2000. Five podiums netted third in the standings and Breen also began development work with the French manufacturer’s 208 T16 car.

In 2014 he drove the new car in the ERC and although he won the Acropolis Rally in Greece, mechanical issues limited him to third in the championship.

A more ambitious programme followed in 2015 with Peugeot-supported campaigns in both WRC 2 and the ERC. He claimed three ERC wins and narrowly missed out on the title, but it was a different story in WRC 2 where he was again hindered by mechanical problems and ended the season eighth.

In 2016 Breen was handed the chance to compete at the top level of the WRC, driving a DS 3 World Rally Car on selected rounds for the Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team. He made the most of his opportunity, especially in Finland where he claimed a remarkable third place.

Having worked so hard to secure a Citroën factory contract for 2017, Breen displayed great consistency and racked up six fifth place finishes from 11 events.

His WRC programme will consist of 10 events in 2018. He will hand over his Citroën C3 to the returning Sébastien Loeb for the other three events.